Nursing gown

ABSTRACT

A GOWN FOR USE BY NURSING MOTHERS. THE GOWN INCLUDES A PAIR OF BREAST-COVERING PANELS, EITHER ONE OF WHICH MAY BE SELECTIVELY DROPPED TO PERMIT BREAST FEEDING. WHEN THE PANELS ARE IN A DROPPED POSITION, THE GOWN IS SUPPORTED FROM THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S SHOULDERS BY STRAPS WHICH EXTEND DOWNWARDLY ON EITHER SIDE OF THE WEARER&#39;&#39;S BREAST TO THE PORTION OF THE GOWN BELOW THE BREAST AREA.

United States Patent O 3,611,439 NURSING GOWN Phyllis L. Meyers, 5235 Linwood Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. 90027 Filed Apr. 22, 1970, Ser. No. 30,844 Int. Cl. A41d 1/20 U.S. Cl. 2-74 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A gown for use by nursing mothers. The gown includes a pair of breast-covering panels, either one of which may be selectively dropped to permit breast feeding. When the panels are in a dropped position, the gown is supported from the wearers shoulders by straps which extend downwardly on either side of the wearers breasts to the portion of the gown below the breast area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to garments and more particularly to a nursing gOWIl.

Description of the prior art The applicant is not aware of any gowns presently being marketed which are particularly designed for use by nursing mothers. Applicant is aware of a nightgown disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,761 which permits nursing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the present invention to provide a nursing gOWn having an attractive appearance and yet permitting either breast to be readily exposed for the purpose of nursing. The nursing gown includes front and back portions which encompass the body of a wearer, with the upper edge of the front portion terminating below the wearers breast area. The back portion of the gown includes a pair of downwardly extending shoulder tabs. A pair of breast-covering panels have their lower edges secured along the upper edge of the front portion and extending upwardly to be releasably engageable with the shoulder tabs. A pair of straps extend downwardly between each of the shoulder tabs and the upper edge of the front portion on either side of the wearers breasts to support the front portion from the shoulder tabs when the breast covering panels are dropped.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a nursing gown embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of said gown;

FIG. 3 is a broken front perspective view of said gown showing one of the breast-covering panels thereof in a dropped position;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4- of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a broken front perspective view in enlarged 3,611,439 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 "ice scale showing a releasable fastening employed in the construction of said gown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown a preferred form of nursing gown G embodying the present invention. The nursing gown G includes a back panel 10 having a pair of forwardly and downwardly extending shoulder tabs 12 and 14 integral with its upper end. The gown G also includes a front portion which has its side edges joined to the side edges of the back portion 10 by means of conventional side seams 22 and 24 (FIG. 4). The front and back portion encompass the body of a wearer (not shown).

It will be seen that the upper edge 25 of the front portion 20 terminates below a wearers breast area. A pair of breast-covering panels 26 and 28 both have their lower edges secured along the upper edge 25 of the front portion 20. These breast-covering panels 26 and 28 extend upwardly and taper to the same width as that of the shoulder tabs 12 and 14. Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 6, readily releasable fastening means, such as complementary Velcro pads 30 and 32 (FIGS. 3 and 6), are interposed between the upper ends of the breastcovering panels and the shoulder tabs. The upper portion of the breast-covering panels overlap the shoulder tabs.

As shown particularly in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, a pair of like straps 36 extend downwardly between each of the shoulder tabs 12 and 14 and the upper edge 25 of the front portion 20 on either side of the wearers breasts. These straps 36 support the front portion 20 from the shoulder tabs 12 and 14 when the breast-covering panels 26 and 28 are selectively dropped to permit breast feeding by the wearer. As indicated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, an adjustable waistband 40 extends from the intersection of the sides of the front and rear portions to define the waistline of the dress. Such adjustable waistband 40 may conveniently take the form of a pair of ties 42 and 43 which have their outer ends aflixed to the side seams 22 and 24 and their bight ends tied-together to provide the desired waistline.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the rear portion 10 includes two overlapped panels 44 and 46 that are secured together solely at their upper regions, as indicated at 50. This arrangement provides a free-flowing appearance and yet alfords concealment for the wearer. The pleasing appearance of the gown G is enhanced by the use of the adjustable waistband 40, such waistband permitting the gown to fit below the wearers bust. Various sleeve designs may be utilized so the gown G can be used as a basic daytime nursing gown.

Various other modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A nursing gown, comprising:

a back portion having a pair of forwardly and down- 'wardly extending shoulder tabs at its upper end;

a front portion contiguous with said back portion to encompass the body of a wearer;

the upper edge of said front portion terminating below a wearers breast area;

a pair of breast-covering panels, both having their lower edges secured along the upper edge of said front portion and extending upwardly over said shoulder tabs;

3 4 readily releasable fastening means interposed between 4. A nursing gown as set forth in claim 2 wherein said the upper end of both of said breast-covering 'back portion includes two overlapped panels having panels and their respective shoulder tabs; and solely their upper parts secured together. a pair of straps extending downwardly between each of said shoulder tabs and the upper edge of said 5 References Cited frcnt portion on ihlthel slide of the wearers breast:l UNITED STATES PATENTS an comprising e so e means supporting sai front portion from said shoulder tabs when said gf g 128460 breast-covering panels are selectively dropped to 3 190 V6 eth 2104 2,475,893 7/1949 Hayes 128--488 perrnlt breast feedlng by the wearer. 1O 3 176 692 4/1965 M 128460 X 2. A nursing gown as set forth in claim 1 wherein 4232761 1/1969 2 74 an adjustable Waistband extends from the intersection of 3464063 9/1969 arson the sides of said front and rear portions to define the oegerman u 4 waistline of said dress- H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner 3. A nursing gown as set forth in claim 1 wherein said 15 'back portion includes two overlapped panels having solely their upper parts secured together. 2-404 

